Penelope Baptist organizing areawide Clash 2010 youth rally

By: Tracy Farnham | Morganton News Herald
Published: March 12, 2010

HICKORY --

A youth rally called Clash 2010 will begin at 7 p.m. April 12 and continue at the same time April 13-14.
Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Center at Penelope Baptist Church, 3310 Main Ave. NW.
Associate pastor Nicholas Wilson said the original idea was to have a one-night event for the church's youth group, AWANA. It quickly grew into much more.
"We decided to try and make it into a multi-night event where students would be able to hear the message from different speakers each night tailored around the same thing," Wilson said.
"We are hoping to make this an annual event and bring in some big-name Christian speakers both in and outside of North Carolina,"
The name, Clash 2010, reflects a belief that "there is a clash between our spiritual life we are all trying to lead and the sinful nature we all have," Wilson said.
"It is our hope the speakers will relay to the youth to stay close to God and focus on Him so that the sinful nature will take a back seat to God and what He would have us do."
David Elrod of Like a Child Ministries in Boone; Chris Wilson of Chris Wilson Ministries of Greenville, N.C.; and David Soesbee of Touch Ministries in Asheville will speak about issues they faced as young persons.
"They will share about sex, drugs, rock and roll — basically all the challenges students face today," Wilson said.
Penelope Baptist's senior pastor, David Grinnell, said that when Wilson first shared the idea of Clash 2010, "Primarily the thought that came to my mind is the fact that as Christians we are called to be different from the world scene. We're living in an age when people don't understand that. We are hoping this event shares with our teens that as Christians we live by different values and we need to share those values with others."
Grinnell predicted David Soesbee will be direct with his message for the young people.
"David spent his early years prior to being a Christian traveling with groups like Metallica, Bon Jovi and Ozzy Osbourne," Grinnell said. "He understood the world system. When he became a Christian he became a great spokesman to young people. I believe he will have a very powerful effect on the kids."
Soesbee now travels with Christian groups like Third Day as their tour pastor.
Chris Wilson is also known as the staff worship leader at Fort Caswell.
Worship will be opened each night by Ashley Seagle, a contemporary Christian artist who lives in Caldwell County.
"Students that have been to Caswell may recognize her from leading worship last year," Nicholas Wilson said.
A different speaker will follow Seagle each evening.
An offering will be collected and shared with the speakers and worship singer.
Penelope Baptist has reached out to 250-275 churches with hope that their young people will be at Clash 2010. So far, Wilson said, 75 to 100 have said they're coming.
Doors will open at 6:15 for youth pastors and group leaders to register their groups. Each leader will receive a Clash 2010 T-shirt. Young people will be eligible for prizes. There will be a drawing each evening for items including McDonald's gift cards, iTunes downloads, CDs and T-shirts.
Wilson asked groups or individuals planning on attending to e-mail or call "and let us know you're coming."
T-shirts can be ordered at the same time. The cost is $10 each if ordered before March 19. Order forms are at http://www.penelopebaptistchurch.org/clash2010/.
Wilson can be contacted at (828) 234-6886 (voice or text) or by calling the church at (828) 322-4237. His e-mail address is pastornick@penelopebaptistchurch.org.